Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Some Essays on Tarim Mummies #1



A Prominent Threat To The Chinese-Uighur Relations: Discovery Of The Tarim Mummies
The discovery of Tarim Mummies shocked the Chinese authorities, because these findings suggested that an European like community had lived in the desert wastes of western China (Mallory-Mair 7). This was prominent, because there is an ongoing conflict between the Chinese and the Uighurs about the Xinjiang province. The Uighurs had been telling folk stories to their young for generations, about their ancestors having Caucasian features and coming from somewhere else(O’Brien 2). These findings strengthened the Uighurs claims to some degree, but created serious problems in the region politics. This paper argues that the discovery of the Tarim Mummies pose a real threat to Chinese-Uighur relations.

For a contemporary nation, their pre-modern history is very important, because the modern nation can find its’ common rights, myths and memories, public culture and historic territory in its’ past (Smith 2). This gives the people a sense of identity and helps them have common interests. In the case of the Uighurs, they are the largest Turkic group indigenous to Xinjiang (Ablet Kamalov 34). Thus, they claim that the mummies found are their ancestors and the mummies’ history is their archaic history. These claims are prominent, because they back up the Uighurs in their freedom movement/fight. These claims repel the Chinese notion of nation which is “all people ever lived and living in China are part of a united Chinese nation” (Kamalov). The Uighurs are arguing that they have been in the Xinjiang area for more than 1250 years and that the Chinese are newcomers, with a mere 250 year past in the region. As a result, the Uighurs demand freedom from China and the Chinese respond with persecution and denial from equal rights.

Another thing to point out is that the discovery of the Tarim Mummies did not just stay regional, it also had impacts on the global arena. These findings actuated the global cooperations, mainly Western originated, to develop interests in the region politics. Prior to this, the Uighur-Chinese relations did not gain the attention it deserved by the global organizations/media. These organizations because of their benefits usually support Uighur claims, which result in a fake power feeling in the Uighur community. They fail to realize that the organizations that support them are there for the benefits, not for the moral issues. They want to weaken the Chinese in Central Asia, benefit from the Uighur-Chinese relations and fill the power gap which the Soviets left after their collapse. Whenever, the Chinese repress the Uighurs and commit human right violations these supporters just turn a blind eye. Because of this ignorant behaviour the Uighurs become more radical and this forces China to take drastic measures, which result in more bloodshed. This process just makes an everlasting peace harder and shows another reason the discoveries pose a real threat to the Uighur-Chinese relations.

There may be more than one way to overcome this threat, but this paper will argue the one that seems the most peaceful. The two parties should meet in common terms. The Uighurs should realize that China is one of the most powerful country in the world and it is highly unlikely that they will give Uighurs freedom. The fact that Xinjiang is the biggest province in China and contains rich oil reserves does not help either. On the other hand, the Chinese should realize that persecuting Uighurs and denying them from equal rights will just provoke the Uighurs and cause larger revolts. This attitude towards the Uighurs’ will not help in the solution of the problem. Also, this kind of behaviour will give a bad reputation to the Chinese in the global arena, which is low enough. Thus, the Chinese should give Uighurs equal rights and acknowledge their history. On the other hand, the Uighurs should stop demanding for freedom and accept Chinese governance, which will be much more beneficial concerning the rapid improvement in Chinese economics.

From the preceding paragraphs, it can be understood that the discoveries pose a threat to the Chinese-Uighur relations, because nothing is more “real” than people dying and being denied from equal rights. However, if the path of negotiation and peace is chosen by both parties all hope is not lost and an everlasting peace can be achieved.

Works Cited
Smith, Anthony. Nations and Nationalism in a Global Era. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1995. 1-7. Print.
O’Brien, Ellen. “Mystery of the Mummies.” The Philadelphia Inquirer 12 Apr. 2006. Print.
Mallory, J.P. and Victor H. Mair. The Tarim Mummies: Ancient China and the Mystery of the
Earliest Peoples from the West. London: Thames and Hudson. 7-8, 332. Print.
Kamalov, Ablet. “Contested Histories of the Ughurs: The Chinese and Uyghur Perspectives. n.d. Print.



No comments:

Post a Comment